I was enjoying today’s game on TV. I have actually found a station on Spectrum here in Colorado where I do not have to pay to see the Rockies games, and I realized how lucky fans are today.
When the Dodgers moved to L.A. in 1958, the only games on TV were the game of the week on NBC with Curt Gowdy. The Dodgers only telecasts were the 11 games they played on the road in San Francisco.
Since the Giants were the only other team on the west coast, this made sense. And still being the Dodgers arch-rival, it made even more sense. Before I ever saw a Dodger game in person, I saw the game through the eyes of the greatest broadcaster who ever called a game. Vin Scully.
Vinny did not just call a game, he painted a picture for those of us who could not see what was happening on the field. In 1958, color TV’s were not as prominent as they are today. Very few TV shows were in color until the 60’s and the first I remember was Bonanza.
Even after I went into the Army, I did not get a color set until I returned home from Germany in 1973. I watched the Apollo 11 landing in El Paso on a 19 inch Sears black and white TV. Most of the games overseas were only on the radio.
In a way, it took me back to when I was younger because when the Dodgers were on the radio, they usually used the Dodger broadcast for the feed, so I still got to listen to Vin.
I listened to Koufax’s first 18 strikeout game on a transistor radio in my bed when I was living at the foster home in Highland Park. If I remember right, the radio was the gift I had asked for on my birthday.
I remember him describing how far Frank Howards homer traveled in Philadelphia when he hit one into the light tower above left field. The crack of the bat on that homer sounded like a cannon shot.
It was almost a ritual for me to get into bed, and when the house parents had gone to bed, turn the game on and listen deep into the night. Before I ever set foot in the coliseum to see a game, I knew what the outlay of the field was going to look like. No one painted a picture like Vin did.
I listened to a lot of games by different broadcasters in those years when I was in the service. I always got a kick out of Harry Carey with his Cubbies. Jack Buck and the Cardinals was an easy listen too.
Mel Allen was a little harder for me to listen to, but he wasn’t awful. Liked him better when he was on TV doing This Week in Baseball. Tom Prince in Pittsburgh was a fun listen also.
But Vin was the cream of the crop. Of course, you had to listen to Jerry Doggett for two innings a game, usually the third and the seventh. Doggett was not a bad announcer, but like Charlie Steiner, he mispronounced some names really badly.
Biggest difference between today and back then was there was not an analyst or color man to be found. Vin pretty much did most of his own research on the opposing team and it’s players.
I remember as compensation for doing a post-game interview, they would always give the players some sort of gift certificate. Draft brewed Blatz beer was the big sponsor.
Today, you see the game in a whole different way. Visualization is the name of the game with replays, slo-mo, umpire cam, base cam, the camera on a wire that travels is also a big thing now. Back in the infancy of telecasts, there were nowhere near as many cameras and tracking the flight of the ball was a lot harder than it is today.
Announcers tend to drone on about inane subjects that have nothing to do with the game. Analysts add as much data as they can since today’s baseball geeks have to have their stats. BA, RBIs, Wins, and Losses are just not good enough anymore. Fans want to know the pitcher’s tendencies while pitching with a loose jock strap. Ahhh, that is an exaggeration, but you get the idea.
Sometimes, I just miss the simpler times when Vin’s voice showed me everything I needed to know.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
The #Dodgers promoted two top relief pitcher prospects:
-RHP Sauryn Lao —> AAA
-RHP Lucas Wepf —> AALao has a 1.90 ERA/21.2 K-BB% and Wepf has a 1.84 ERA/30.6 K-BB% (!!!). Both prospects are 24 years old and possess great stuff that could eventually play in the Dodgers bullpen pic.twitter.com/s66GQ1RJCT
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) June 20, 2024
Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado) 8 – OKC Baseball Club 5
Chris Vallimont continues to struggle. After pitching 6.0 scoreless innings in his OKC debut, he has gone south. In his last four starts, Vallimont has completed 8.1 IP, 14 runs (all earned), 12 hits, 4 HR, 8 BB, 6K. That is a 15.12 ERA and a 2.40 ERA. In Thursday’s game, he allowed 6 runs in 5.0 innings.
OKC was down 4-0 in the 5th. Drew Avans led off with a triple and James Outman hit a 1-out 2-run HR.
James Outman used his speed to beat out a routine ball to the 1st baseman, then used his power to hit a Home Run to the opposite field. HR was hit 101.1. Outman has his average up to .291, OPS .982. Just Keep Grindin' & wait for opportunity! #dodgers pic.twitter.com/jzO611hVEE
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 21, 2024
In the 6th, Vallimont allowed the first four batters to reach, with two of them scoring.
In the bottom of the 6th, Drew Avans hit a run scoring double.
Down 6-3 in the 7th, Andre Lipcius opened with a single. Outman was HBP. Both runners moved up on a Kody Hoese F-8. Trey Sweeney grounded out and Lipcius scored with Outman moving up to 3rd. Outman scored on a WP and OKC was down 6-5 after 7 innings.
Albuquerque scored two in the 9th off Nick Martinez to finish the scoring.
- Drew Avans – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (16), triple (7)
- James Outman – 2-4, 1 HBP, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (7)
- Double – Ryan Ward (13)
Ben Casparius was placed on the 7-day IL.
NW Arkansas (KC) 5 – Tulsa Drillers 4
22 year old RHP Jerming Rosario started his second AA game. It did not go as well as his 1st, but it was not all that bad either. In 5.0 IP, 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 BB with 5 K. He left with Tulsa ahead 4-2 and a runner on 1st.
In the 3rd, Alex Freeland hit a 2-out solo HR. In the 5th, Brandon Lewis hit a leadoff solo HR to tie the game at 2 apiece.
Anyone else excited about a switch hitting short stop that has stolen 30+ bases in a season, has a good chance at hitting 20 HRs this year & has posted a WRC+ of 152. Well, and plays good Defense! That's Alex Freeland who hit HR #7 tonight from the Right Side. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/9KGiP6sjhi
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 21, 2024
When Brandon Lewis hits a Home Run, he really hits a Home Run. He hit HR #8 112 MPH & continues his very hot month of June. So far this month he's hitting .321, OPS 1.286. Atta Baby BLeww, Ride the Momentum & stay hot! #dodgers pic.twitter.com/HzNqPr2OWj
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 21, 2024
In the 6th, Damon Keith led off with a single. With one out Brendon Lewis doubled with Keith moving to 3B. Diego Cartaya doubled both runners home and a 4-2 lead.
In the 6th, Rosario allowed a leadoff single Ronan Kopp could not hold the lead. He allowed a BB, PB, and two sac flies tied the score.
With Ben Harris on the bump in the 9th, the leadoff hitter doubled. After a sac bunt and IBB, Juan Morillo relieved Harris. The first batter he faced singled home the walk off winning run.
- Alex Freeland – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (7)
- Diego Cartaya – 3-4, 2 RBI, Double (7)
- Double – Brandon Davis (13)
- HR – Brandon Lewis (8)
Uh Oh, Diego Cartaya has momentum & is getting to the inside pitch, both up & down in the zone. He had 3 hits tonight, one on a pitch up & in, another on one low & in, then nailed one right back up the box. He has hits in 4 games in a row, 7 of 8 & is 8 for his last 14. #dodgers… pic.twitter.com/BiBd4hy34R
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 21, 2024
Quad Cities River Bandits (KC) 7 – Great Lakes Loons 0
Peter Heubeck started and completed 5.0 scoreless innings. He allowed 2 singles, 1 HBP, with 6 K.
Peter Heubeck was a bright spot in an other words forgettable day for the Loons.
5IP 2H 0R 6Ks 0BB
Heubeck has his ERA down to 2.52 & has 78 Ks in 53.2 IP. 2nd consecutive scoreless start (11 IP) & he's allowed just 1 run in his last 3 starts (13.2 IP). Dude is executing!… pic.twitter.com/3bI9zZeYPq— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 21, 2024
Heubeck was relieved by Livan Reinoso who surrendered 3 runs, including a 2 run HR in the 6th. Madison Jeffrey and Jonathan Edwards allowed 4 additional runs in their 1.0 inning each.
Great Lakes was shut out on 2 singles, both by Jake Gelof. GL had three other base runners via BB.
Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) 8 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6
RC jumped out to a 6-1 lead after 4.0 innings. 4 singles in the 1st plated two runs. In the 4th, Jose Meza was HBP. After three WP, Meza scored. Three walks loaded the bases. Josue De Paula singled 2 runners home. After Jeral Perez was HBP to load the bases again, Samuel Munoz hit a sac fly giving RC a 6-1 lead.
Christian Zazueta allowed 6 runs in 1.1 inning for a 7-6 lead after 6 innings. Noah Ruen allowed 3 hits and a run in the 7th for the 8th run.
- Josue De Paula – 2-4, 1 HBP, 1 run, 2 RBI
- Logan Wagner – 1-2, 3 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI
ACL Dodgers 7 – ACL Guardians 3
- Eduardo Quintero – 2-4, 2 RBI
- Alexander Albertus – 2-3, 1 BB
- Home Runs – Easton Shelton (1), Jaron Elkins (3)
Very nice blog today Bear!
Good win for the Dodgers with Stone pitching very, very well again. Young man is playing better than we could have hoped for. The case of him being the best pitcher in the rotation is growing with every outing.
And I say it again: Give Vargas an occasional start at 3b to keep his bat in the lineup. his defense certainly is below average there but I do not think he would hurt us too much. Roberts always says he is managing for the big picture and October, not to win every game, so put Vargas in regularly. The reward is a lot higher than the risk IMHO.
cartaya heating up.If not for anything else he raises his trade value.
DePaula also on a little hot streak though his second hit yesterday easily could have been ruled an error on the 2b..
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Interesting .
i feel like modern blackout rules are really fucking with fans and impairing the ability to watch and connect.
that doesn’t impact radio, or has it been?
Wonderful tribute to Vinny, Bear. He really was without peer in his ability to make us see the game on radio. He was a poet without any of the bluster common in the sportscasting trade. He was also an extraordinarily accurate broadcast journalist, while his peers often blundered..sometimes in an endearing way. Vinny was endearing because he was so damn good.
Except for say “It’s time for Dodgers baseball!,” he rarely repeated himself. I recall him describing a certain bunt as “landing like a poached egg.” Aa perfect description. Did he say this more than once
Personally, I can only recall one moment that Vinny made a factual error. Frankly, I don’t fully trust my memory, but I recall him telling a story in which he refered to Lasorda as “Durocher.” He paused, as though he recognized his error. But simply moved on.
But again, Vinny was so good that I’m not sure I can trust my memory….
A collection of essays about Vinny have been compiled in a book that is now on the market:
The Voice: Vin Scully is Dodgers Baseball
Warm summer Canoga Park breezes through the screen window in my bedroom, the sound of crickets and Dodger baseball with Vin & Jerry on the radio. Great memories. Games started at 8 back then so often I fell asleep and had to read the results in the box score the following day.
I had Vargas at third two years ago. But then, I had Blake DeWitt there several years ago too. What do I know? I think both Vargas and Outman can play at this level but they are getting kinda old to be called prospects.
It’s now summer so, in my opinion, it’s time to start seriously sharing dog day innings. Vargas, Outman, Rojas, Kiké, Taylor, Pages, Barnes, Biggio (where the hell is Muncy?) 6-7 man rotation with nobody throwing more than 90 pitches, (and spot strikes, don’t throw it 98 mph) It’s a 40 man roster from now until it cools off. Let’s see what we got.
There was a story on the Google news stream about four pitchers the Dodgers could target, all starters. Kikuchi, Severino, Elfin and Luzardo. Luzardo would probably cost the most in prospect capital. But it is an interesting list.
“Sometimes, I just miss the simpler times when Vin’s voice showed me everything I needed to know.”
Perfect ending, Bear.
Thanks again for this one.
Great line Bear – “Sometimes, I just miss the simpler times when Vin’s voice showed me everything I needed to know.”
I still miss him, especially when I hear a 3-man booth fight each other for air time. And guys who can’t shut up.
I’m not a Stephen Nelson fan and even Joe Davis offers up too many useless and unnecessary stats to fill air time. Let the game breath.
Vinny used to call curveballs, a change up. Technically correct curves are a change of speed. I wonder how he would have called the 14 different pitch types in use today? “Oh, Mays goes down on a slutter”.
Ryan McMahon is something else at 3rd base, for the Rockies. Does he play like this all the time? I see he’s a career .246/.759 guy who’s having a career year at age 29, hitting .274/826. But he looks like Nolan Arenado at 3rd. No offense to Brooks Robinson who had highlights throwing guys out from foul territory but he never, to my recollection, threw somebody out from where the infield dirt ends and the outfield grass begins, in foul territory. That’s were McMahon threw out, was it Pages or Rojas? That’s like a 140+ feet throw to 1st. That’s unreal.
I hope Stone didn’t have a physical issue in the 6th. That’s always my first concern when a guy just loses it. If not, Stone had shades of Blake Snell, who can just be sailing along and suddenly can’t throw strikes. It wouldn’t seem fatigue at 77 pitches. Just youth, I hope.
I don’t like it when we don’t score after the 4th. We seem to lose some intensity and mail it in sometimes with an early lead.
Listening to Vin sitting in Dodger Stadium was a thing. If you forgot your radio, you could hear him from speakers in the food areas or overhear someone else’s radio. The Big replay screens didn’t exist so if we looked away and missed seeing a play we still heard Vin paint it for us. We always knew the count, outs, and stories about the hitters/players.
The 7 second delay that was mandated ended the transistor radio phenomena at Dodger Stadium. I’m sure some were annoyed with it but I loved it. Players could hear what Vin was saying about them as they stood in the batters box and of course umpires were aware that Vin was’t being critical of them.
Since only a few games were on TV, we sat outside in the warm dry air at night listening to the game instead of sitting inside and watching it on TV nowadays.
Yankees just DFAd Victor Gonzalez and called up Phil Bickford. Get rid of one exe-Dodger and bring up another.
Anyone else very comfortable when Knack is on the mound? So far I really like what I see, and I hope we don’t just “throw him in” in some trade in the next month.
If we trade him, we better get some good value in return!
What a pathetic loss.